12/17/2011

Fun with air dry clay...

So, this is the last weekend before Christmas!! Eek! If you are anything like me, you probably still have a ton of things to do and a few more Christmas gifts to get...ot maybe, make.

Every year we try to make some little holiday craft to give to our family members. One year it was to be snow globes, but you heard how that went...

Two different years we used Crayola Air Dry clay. One year was snowmen and last year, Christmas trees. These require no sewing and can be made with the help of little hands. You can pick up all of the materials you would need for either project at the craft store in one trip, and, they are so easy to make. One thing to remember, don't wait until too last minute because they do need some time to dry (a day or two).

Supplies for snowmen

Crayola air dry clay

Buttons

Felt

Toothpicks

small sticks

Sharpie

Supplies for Christmas trees

air dry clay

stars

Brads

To make the snowmen

Roll clay into a small ball about 1"-2". Wet your fingers a bit with some water to smooth out the surface. Insert toothpick into the ball about a 1/2" and pinch the clay around the toothpick to close up the hole a bit. This is the bottom of your snowman, gently push the ball down on the table to flatten our the bottom so the snowman can stand tall. Roll two more clay balls, for the body, and the head. Gently push the second snowball onto the toothpick from the first snowball. The toothpicks hold the snowman together. At this point you will probably need to insert another toothpick into the body snowball about a 1/2" so that there is something to attach the third snowball to. Once you are satisfied with the orientation, etc. of your snowman's body, carefully insert two tiny sticks into the sides for arms. Cut the bottom part of one of the toothpicks off and use that for the nose. Gently push one button into the middle snowball. Now that the body of the snowman has been built. Place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a safe place to dry. Once dry draw eyes and a mouth onto the snowman with a Sharpie. Cut a long strip about 1/2" wide of your felt, fringe the edges, and tie it around your snowman for a scarf. Done.

The year Brad and I made these I think we may have gotten a little carried away...they each got names that fit their personalities...and when they were all lined up together we had to take their picture so that they could remember each other after they were seperated.

(Ps. Please excuse the arms on the snowmen, they are four years old...)

To make Christmas trees

Roll a cone out of the air dry clay about 3"-4" tall. Wet your fingers a bit with some water to smooth out the clay. Once your cone is formed, gently press it onto the table to make the bottom flat so that your tree can stand tall. Push your star in place at the top of your tree. Next, push the brads into the tree. Place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a safe place to dry. Voila, simple as that! *Note: brads of so many different colors are available at craft stores have fun! These trees are fantastically simple for little hands to do! Pushing the brads into the clay is so much fun for them. I love how they look a bit wonky, a bit "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"-like.

Here's hoping you have time for all that you need to do, and, hopefully these little projects might just help you cross some of it off your list!

***But wait!! Before you go...The winner of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day Puppy is (thanks to random.org...) #104

Shana who said "My fave stuffy was a Gizmo doll believe it or not. Oh and Raggedy Ann!"

Thank you everyone for taking the time to enter! Thanks also for sharing all of your wonderful stories about your favorite stuffed animals/dolls as a child! I really loved hearing your stories...and I have to say, I was pleasently surprised by how many of you still have yours! Happy Weekend!

Comments

So, this is the last weekend before Christmas!! Eek! If you are anything like me, you probably still have a ton of things to do and a few more Christmas gifts to get...ot maybe, make.

Every year we try to make some little holiday craft to give to our family members. One year it was to be snow globes, but you heard how that went...

Two different years we used Crayola Air Dry clay. One year was snowmen and last year, Christmas trees. These require no sewing and can be made with the help of little hands. You can pick up all of the materials you would need for either project at the craft store in one trip, and, they are so easy to make. One thing to remember, don't wait until too last minute because they do need some time to dry (a day or two).

Supplies for snowmen

Crayola air dry clay

Buttons

Felt

Toothpicks

small sticks

Sharpie

Supplies for Christmas trees

air dry clay

stars

Brads

To make the snowmen

Roll clay into a small ball about 1"-2". Wet your fingers a bit with some water to smooth out the surface. Insert toothpick into the ball about a 1/2" and pinch the clay around the toothpick to close up the hole a bit. This is the bottom of your snowman, gently push the ball down on the table to flatten our the bottom so the snowman can stand tall. Roll two more clay balls, for the body, and the head. Gently push the second snowball onto the toothpick from the first snowball. The toothpicks hold the snowman together. At this point you will probably need to insert another toothpick into the body snowball about a 1/2" so that there is something to attach the third snowball to. Once you are satisfied with the orientation, etc. of your snowman's body, carefully insert two tiny sticks into the sides for arms. Cut the bottom part of one of the toothpicks off and use that for the nose. Gently push one button into the middle snowball. Now that the body of the snowman has been built. Place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a safe place to dry. Once dry draw eyes and a mouth onto the snowman with a Sharpie. Cut a long strip about 1/2" wide of your felt, fringe the edges, and tie it around your snowman for a scarf. Done.

The year Brad and I made these I think we may have gotten a little carried away...they each got names that fit their personalities...and when they were all lined up together we had to take their picture so that they could remember each other after they were seperated.

(Ps. Please excuse the arms on the snowmen, they are four years old...)

To make Christmas trees

Roll a cone out of the air dry clay about 3"-4" tall. Wet your fingers a bit with some water to smooth out the clay. Once your cone is formed, gently press it onto the table to make the bottom flat so that your tree can stand tall. Push your star in place at the top of your tree. Next, push the brads into the tree. Place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a safe place to dry. Voila, simple as that! *Note: brads of so many different colors are available at craft stores have fun! These trees are fantastically simple for little hands to do! Pushing the brads into the clay is so much fun for them. I love how they look a bit wonky, a bit "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"-like.

Here's hoping you have time for all that you need to do, and, hopefully these little projects might just help you cross some of it off your list!

***But wait!! Before you go...The winner of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day Puppy is (thanks to random.org...) #104

Shana who said "My fave stuffy was a Gizmo doll believe it or not. Oh and Raggedy Ann!"

Thank you everyone for taking the time to enter! Thanks also for sharing all of your wonderful stories about your favorite stuffed animals/dolls as a child! I really loved hearing your stories...and I have to say, I was pleasently surprised by how many of you still have yours! Happy Weekend!

Welcome...

I'm Jane, thanks for stopping by! I hope you take your time and take a look around...If you do you'll our adventures in sewing, creating, crafting, gardening and exploring...it's what gets us through the day and fullfills us!
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